The pleasure of fine things

JG26Irish_2 said:

Sweet, I have a soft spot for old Porsches. Sitting in one, they smell like the cockpit of an old fighter plane. Smells like combo of paint, burnt metal, octane, leather, and testosterone, (and sometimes a little urine) - If we could bottle that scent it would make a great men's cologne, lol.

I ran mostly motorcycles, starting in the dirt (Yamaha, Kawi, Husky) and then graduating to the road racers (Honda). Light twins, supersport and superbike but also ran sportscars for a while. Porsches and Toyotas and SCCA sanctioned events in other classes. Placed 1st at Mid-Ohio in 2007 in the sportscar challenge in the 4cyl FI class. My last time on the track was only two yrs ago testing a GT3R at New Hampshire Motorsports track. That is a capable little piece of chained lightning. Before they bulldozed it nearly flat, I used to be able to wheelie over Porsche Hill at Road Atlanta on my Superbike at over 160mph in 6th gear and then keeping it pinned half way into Gravity Cavity before braking for the kink at the bottom and accelerating up and over the hill and down to the line. Good times.

Funny how, fighter pilots, road racers and DG hunters all seem to gravitate to the same things, lol. Pic below of my 1st road bike back in the day. It was slow but damn it was fun.

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I have many, many days testing and developing stuff at Road Atlanta. We won the SCCA Runoffs in 1972 in a Lola T252 Formula Super Vee. I prepared and built the engine in it. Won the IMSA GTO Class and 4th OA at Sebring in 1978 in a Porsche RSR 3.2L.

Altitude sickness said:

Did your size hold you back? You look huge on that bike.

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LOL - To a degree if I am honest, Yes. Most competitive road racers are closer to Jockey size and I am 6'2" and looked like a monkey f##king a football when riding one of those little light wt bikes, lol. But, despite, the size/wt handicaps, I was pretty competitive cause nobody bothered to tell me I couldn't be. I just had to be faster thru the corners and more precise on my breaking. I was blessed with cat like reflexes and great sense of balance which enabled me to be comfortable sliding around on the track. Once no long ago, in a test at COTA I did a reaction time test against six of the current Formula 1 drivers and beat all but one and I tied with him. His name is Max Verstappen. That was an eye opener since by then I was in my 60's and they were all in their prime.

In fact I loved wet races cause it was an equalizer that enabled me to run to the front even when I lacked the horsepower to be competitive in the dry.

The only time I felt truly outclassed was one weekend I was racing a light weight mini endurance race that pitted the light twins and big singles against the little 125GP bikes. Ben Spies was a young gun 125 rider who later went on to AMA and MotoGP championships and he was racing against me. He passed me on the last turn before the front straight but his 125 had only about 30hp and my twin had about 50hp so I reeled him in down the straight only to see him hit a brake maker that was 50ft deeper than mine and then totally disappear in the next three turns. After the race, I asked "Who was that kid?" and was told he had just signed a pro contract with John Ulrich at Valvoline Suzuki.

The only bike that does not make my ass look big is my Harley.

It’s crazy how they slide into the corners now. and they practice flat track on dirt in the off season.


Too bad Harley dropped out of King of the Baggers.

Following the theme of finer things, don’t neglect the classic dinner party after a day out. Yes, you’re tired, likely dusty or soaked, but put on the brave face and finery and make the night a classic to remember. Joviality, shit-talkery at an Olympic level and trauma bonding makes for memories that only grow bolder with age. Make the effort. Pics are from an East African birthday party, a Valentines in Virginia and a kilted Winter Solstice bonfire. Live big ladies and gents!

steve white said:

Well it doesn't last long and the evidence is erased as soon as you eat it, but fine food is one of the finer things. Just got back from a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta MX and the "Secrets" resort offered by Hyatt had some of the best food I've ever seen as part of an all included package. Fine souffles in the French restaurant, all you could eat lobster one night in the World Cafe, everything from black caviar to smoked salmon to the tastiest fresh corn tortillas used for breakfast casadillas in the breakfast buffet, to Jeez you name it. Tender filet mignon, Benihana style hibachi, Italian, Mahi-mahi and sea bass as catch of the day in several seafood venues venues, Meze Mediterranean restaurant if you could book it--you get the idea. I failed to restrict my eating but succeeded in putting on about ten extra pounds. None of it was bad. Much of it was stellar. I am seriously gong to have to go on the straight and narrow.

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+1 - My wife and I just got back from the Secrets Playa Mujeres in Cancun, and I must say I was far more impressed than I expected to be, based on prior experiences with all-inclusives. My brother in law has stayed at several Secrets properties in Mexico and the Caribbean, and had had a great experience at all but one (Cozumel). For us, one of the big difference makers was paying a little extra for the Preferred Club option. I'm still not a big fan of Cancun (more of a Cabo and Puerto Vallarta guy), but I'm definitely a fan of the Secrets brand.

@Kevin Peacocke

Maybe not still 'finer things', but I thought you'd like this pic.

Part of the collection of a local chap who used to race Minis.



Now has a substantial collection of 'projects'.

Huge said:

Following the theme of finer things, don’t neglect the classic dinner party after a day out. Yes, you’re tired, likely dusty or soaked, but put on the brave face and finery and make the night a classic to remember. Joviality, shit-talkery at an Olympic level and trauma bonding makes for memories that only grow bolder with age. Make the effort. Pics are from an East African birthday party, a Valentines in Virginia and a kilted Winter Solstice bonfire. Live big ladies and gents!

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Hell yes Lads! - You have not lived until you have wielded a Claymore in your hands. If there is a drop of Scottish blood in yer veins you will feel a quickening as soon as you hoist the blade.

I went thru much of my life thinking my family heritage was all Irish and German and this was all true but what my family failed to realize was that the German side was actually 1/2 Scottish. I always knew that holding a broad sword felt "Right" but never knew why. I thought I did not like Scotch because I had tasted Cutty Sark and thought it was bulls piss, lol.

But, I learned by chance that I was part Scottish and that this line had evolved from Viking Raiders who settled in the Highlands near Caithness and Orkney Isles. The first time I tasted Highland Park it was like Mother's Milk.

JG26Irish_2 said:

Love the Jag. As a young man, my landlady drove a Sea Green XKE V12, She was a fox. Later, I once had the chance to buy one but when I climbed in, at 6'2" I barely fit in the cockpit and my head stuck up above the windscreen. That was a no-go for me. I soon learned that I fit better in German cars, lol and began racing Porsches. Still, few cars that get the styling more right than the Jag.

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Now no one give me shit please although I know my friends will…as I near retirement I know I’d better buy the final toys I want. I bought the beautiful Mrs. Rare Breed and I two Maseratis the same color that she loves ( guilt for all my Africa Safaris). Two nicest vehicles I’ve owned. Bought them three years old each with less than 30,000 miles on them, still smell like new and since I bought two got an unbeatable deal on them!!!